Clamping device.



W. N. SAWYBR.

GLAMPING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED APR.14, 1913.

1,077,001. Patented Oct. 28, 1913.

MIME COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.,w.\sHlNaToN. D. 1:

to be worked -upon by nnrrnn srarns PATENT ornroa.

WILLARD NELSON SAWYER, 0F WINCHENIDON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOIB, TO WILLIAM M. WHITNEY, OF WINGHENDQN, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLAMPING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 28, 1913.

Application filed April 14, 1913. Serial No. 760,878.

To all whom it may concern tion with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to clamping devices, and more par ticularly to such devices for holding articles hand or machine tools. The aims and purposes of the invention are to provide a device of the general char-v acter noted that shall be simple in construc tion, eflicient in the performance of its func tion, and readily operated, all as will more fully appear from the following description and accompanying drawings of one form of means for carrying the invention into practical effect, it being understood'that details may be varied within the true scope of'the invention which is definitely pointed out by the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an edge view of a clamping device embodying the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a front or face view showing the position of the parts in full-line when an article of tapering form is to be held, and by d0tted-line when an article of uniform size or thiclmess is to be clamped.

In the drawings, 1 represents a bench, table or other support to which the clamping device is to be attached by the bolts 2 passing through the flanged lower part 3 of the clamp, and while this construction is 1 a good convenient form of means for connecting the clamp to its supporting structure, other and different means might, of course, be employed.

Rising from the flanged lower part 3 of the clamp is the standard 4 having an upper jaw 5, projecting therefrom, substantially as indicated by Fig. 1. This upper jaw 5 is preferably formed integral with the standard 4, but, of course, it may be otherwise secured thereto. Projecting from the standard below the upper jaw 5 are the lower jaw supports 6, preferably two, each 7 formed integral with or extending from the standard 4, and having circularly curved seats 7 for the rotatable parts 8, which for identification. may be referred to as cylindrical linings.

The cylindrical, linings 8 extend through the standard 4, as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 1, and their cylindrical surfaces 9 rest upon the curved seats 7 formed in the lower aw. supports 6, Fig. 2, the construction being such that while the cylindrical linings 8 may be supported upon the complemental curved surfaces of the lower jaw' supports 6, they may turn freely thereon for a purpose that will presently appear.

Each of the cylindrical linings 8 is cut away between its'flanged head portions 10 and 11 as shown at 12, Fig. 1, and by the dotted line 13, Fig. 2, to provide a bearing surface for the inclined edge portion of a wedge" 14, said wedges being confined to movement between the flanged heads 10 and the surface of the standard 4. Resting upon the straight upper surface portions of the wedges 14, which are appropriately separated the desired distance, is the lower jaw 15, movable toward and from the upper jaw 5, by means of the wedges 14, the construction'being such that when the wedges 14 are relatively moved in one direction they will force the lower jaw 15 toward the upper jaw 5, and when moved relatively in the opposite direction they will permit the lower jaw to drop away from the upper jaw. The lower jaw 15 has an extended jaw clamping surface 16, Fig. 1, so that an article such as a saw-blade,-along piece of wood, a cutter-head slide for a planing machine, or any other article to be worked upon by hand or machine tools may be effectively held between the jaws. I

In order to hold the lower jaw 15 in position forcooperation with the wedges 14, the said lower jaw is preferably held loosely in place by suitable means, such for instance, as the bolts 18 which pass through the slots 17 in the said lower jaw and are threaded into the standard 4. Washers 19 are appropriately interposed between the heads of the bolts 18 and the surface of the lower jaw 15, the construction being such that while-the lower jaw 15 is thus loosely held in its opposed relation with respect to the upper jaw 5, it may be moved toward and from the upper jaw by the wedges 14 in a manner that will presently appear. While in the preferred form of the invention the lower jaw 15 is provided, occasions may arise where this jaw may be omitted and the wedges 14 may act as the lower jaw, and directly upon the article to be clamped between the upper jaw 5 and themselves.

As hereinbefore noted, the wedges 14 have their inclined surfaces resting upon the surfaces 13 of the cylindrical linings 8, and as one form. of means for moving the wedges 14 relatively to cause them to act in the manner hereinbefore described, the present invention contemplates a bolt 20, one end 21 of which is threaded into one of the wedges 14, the other wedge being held in position upon the bolt 20 by means of suitable washers 22 and 23 secured one at each side of the held wedge 14. The bolt 20 may be appropriately provided at one end. with means for turning, the particular means shown in the drawing being a squared end 24 adapted to receive a wrench or crank arm, the construction being such that upon rotation of the screw-bolt 20 in one direction, the wedges 14 will be drawn toward each other and their inclined surfaces moving over the opposed surfaces of the cylindrical linings 8, will cause said wedges to rise relatively to the upper jaw 5 and clamp between themselves or between the lower jaw 15 and upper jaw 5, the article which is to be held for action of the hand tools. It will be noted that the cylindrical linings S are freely rotatable on the supports 6 and may be provided with the heads 11 which will prevent the cylindrical linings being drawn outward to the left, Fig. 1, which might cause disengagement of these linings from the standard 4.

It sometimes occurs that a tapering piece. such as 25, Fig. 2, is to be held between the upper and the lower jaws for action of the hand tools. In such case when the screwbolt 20 is turned by its operating means, the wedges 14 are drawn toward each other, but the wedge at the left, in the particular shape of the article 25 shown by Fig. 2, will cease its movement sooner than will the wedge 14 at the right, Fig. 2, and during this relative movement of the wedge 14 the cylindrical linings 8 may freely turn on their bearings 6 to adjust themselves to the proper inclination of the inclined surfaces of the wedges and to provide for such wedges, regardless of whether they move equal or unequal distances in clamping the particular article, a full, flush bearing surface upon the cut-away portion of the cylindrical linings 8.

It will be noted that the wedges 14 are loosely held between the heads 10 of the cylindrical linings 8 and the inner face of the standard 4, and that the bolt 20 for adjusting the wedges has no connection with any other part than the wedges themselves. To prevent the wedges from being entirely removed from their relation with the other parts of the clamp and to limit their separating movement, the present invention contemplates stops 26 one at each side of the standard 4, as indicated by Figs. 1 and 2. These stops may be appropriately secured to thus limit the movement of the wedges by appropriate means, such as the bolts 27, or these stops 26 may be otherwise formed.

From the construction described, it will be noted that the lower jaw supports 6 are separated laterally from each other and provide secure and efiicient means for sustaining the cylindrical linings 8 which may freely turn upon the support 6 to adapt themselves to the particular movement of the wedge in providing flush bearing surfaces between themselves and the inclined surface of the wedge. This turning action of the linings 8 is also of importance in simplifying the action of the wedges in adapting themselves to the particular shape of the article to be clamped, it being understood that when the article to be clamped is of uniform dimensions, the wedges 14 will move equally under the action of the adjusting screw-bolt 20 and will move the lower jaw 15 equal distance at both ends, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 2, in clamping such uniform article between the jaws 15* and 5; but when an article of varying shape, such as of av tapering nature, for instance, the wedges 14. will move unequal distances toward each other, and consequently raise the lower jaw 15 unequal distances at its end portions into clamping engagement with the article interposed between it and the upper jaw 5.

Obviously, changes may be made in details of the various features of the clamp without departing from the real invention as defined by the claims, and while the clamp is useful in clamping work in position to be operated upon, it is also applicable in any place where a part is to be clamped or held, as for instance, to clamp parts of a machine in position after said parts have been adjusted to suit the particular work, such as the cutter head slide of a planing machine.

lVhat is claimed is 1. A clamping device comprising two opposed jaw members, wedges for moving the jaw members relatively into clamping relation, and automatically adjustable sustaining means for said wedges movable to con form to the inclination of the wedges as the jaw members are clamped upon the work;

2. A clamping device, comprising a standard having a jaw, a plurality of wedges opposed to said jaw, supports for said wedges, and loosely mounted lining between the wedges and their supports adapted to automatically conform to the inclination of the wedges.

3. A clamping device, comprising a standard having an overhanging jaw, a plurality of wedges opposed to said overhanging jaw, supports for said wedges, loosely mounted lining between the wedges and their supports adapted to automatically conform to the inclination of the wedges, and means for relatively moving said wedges.

4. In a clamping device of the character described, the combination of a standard having an upper jaw, lower jaw supports projecting from the standard, a wedge sustained by each of said lower jaw supports, said supports being automatically conformable with the inclination of the respective wedges, a lower jaw operated by said wedges, and means for relatively moving the wedges.

5. In a clamping device of the character described, the combination of a standard having a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, jaw supports projecting from the standard, linings loosely sustained by said jaw supports to permit said linings to be self-adjusting in conformity with the distribution of strains thereon a wedge sustained by each of said linings, and means for relatively moving the wedges. I

6. A clamping device, comprising a standard having a fixed jaw, a plurality of separated wedges opposed to said fixed jaw, rotatable supporting means for each of said wedges to permit such means to conform its supporting surface to that of the wedge sustained by it, and means for relatively moving the Wedges.

7. A clamping device, comprising a stand ard having a fixed jaw and a movable jaw opposed thereto, wedges for acting upon different portions of the movable jaw, rotatable self-adjusting means for supporting each of said wedges, and means for moving the wedges relatively.

8. In a clamping device, the combination of a standard having a jaw, a plurality of wedges for clamping an article against said jaw, means for adjusting the wedges relatively, and rotatable self-adjusting supports projecting from the standard, said wedges andmeans being sustained solely by said rotatable self-adjusting supports.

9. In a clamping device, the combination of a standard having a jaw, a plurality of wedges for clamping an article against said jaw, means forv adjusting the wedges relatively, rotatable self-adjusting supports projecting from the standard, said wedges and means being'sustained solely by said rotatable self-adjusting supports, and stops for limitingrelative movement of the wedges in one direction.

10. In a clamping device, the combination of a standard having a fixed aw, jaw supports projecting from the standard and having curved bearings, cylindrical linings loosely mounted on said curved bearings, a wedge mounted to move transversely of each cylindrical lining, said linings having flat surfaces for sustainingthe wedges.

11. Ina clamping device, the combination of a standard having ajaw, separated jaw supports projecting from the standard each having a cylindrical lining loosely and ro-' tatably sustained thereby, said linings each having a bearing surface, a wedge mounted for movement on each of said bearing surfaces, and means for relatively moving the I wedges to clamp an article against said jaw and cause rotative movement of said cylindrical linings in conformity to the movements of the supported wedge.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses;

IVILLARD NELSON SAWYER.

Witnesses? GEORGE W. GREGORY, WILLIAM H. MORLOOK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

